ACT Government: Canberra to ban plastic straws

Plastic straws and other single-use items will be banned in the ACT from July 1. Find out what this means for you.

The ACT Government is set to ban plastic straws and other single-use items.

From July 1, single-use plastic straws, cotton buds with plastic stems and all oxo-degradable plastics will be banned from the territory.

This follows previous bans on single-use plastics in 2021, which banned single-use plastic cutlery and drink stirrers, polystyrene food and drink containers and plastic backs less than 35 microns in thickness.

Transport and City Services Minister Chris Steel thanked businesses and organisations which had already begun to use more sustainable options.

The ACT will ban plastic straws from July.

However there will be exemptions to the plastic ban for cafes, restaurants, and healthcare organisations that care or provide for people with disabilities, such as pharmacies, aged care and disability facilities.

“Over the past 12 months we have been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders about these bans to ensure the needs of all Canberrans continue to be met as we phase out these products,” Mr Steel said.

“We recognise that single-use plastic straws are a safety and accessibility tool for some Canberrans with a disability.

“That’s why we’ve created appropriate exemptions for people who still need them.”

National Retailers Association’s director of policy David Stout said retailers were “eager to comply” with the new rules and said the organisation would “continue to work with government to seek clarity for businesses”.

“We are visiting retail shopping centres, malls and strips across the ACT, visiting over 800 retailers in their stores to provide resources and information,” he said.

Originally published as ACT Government: Canberra to ban plastic straws